THE SOUTH ESK 109 



wholly from the town of Brechin and its sewage farm. This 

 farm is about a mile below the town on the left bank and 

 occupies a small haugh at the side of the river. It may at one 

 time have been sufficient to deal with the sewage of Brechin, 

 but for several years it has been quite inadequate ; the land 

 has become sewage-sick, and the effluent to the river which 

 enters a large and rather still pool is most impure. The 

 whole place advertises its position for a considerable radius 

 by the objectionable odour, and no self-respecting fish would 

 remain in the water immediately below. In low-water 

 conditions a horrible scum floats on the surface of the pool 

 referred to, and the side of the river near the outfall is loaded 

 with sewage fungus. 



The Kinnaird fishing begins at the foot of this pool in a 

 thickly -wooded stretch of water, represented in the photograph. 

 No doubt the success of the lower water angling depends much 

 on the condition of water -flow. The whole river, indeed, owing 

 to the rather easy gradient, and the weirs, is much benefited 

 by a rainy season, and the pollutions are at the same time 

 minimised in their injurious effects. In 1907, for instance, 

 200 spring fish were taken on Kinnaird Water alone. In 1908 

 I believe the tenant could not score up many more than would 

 be represented by the two first figures alone. Lord South- 

 esk has kindly given me the catch since the first edition of this 

 book was published. : 



Spring. Autumn. 



1909 ... 78 56 



1910 ... 77 71 



1911 . . .37 23 (dry season) 



1912 ... 65 71 



1913 . . . 126 26 (no water in autumn) 



1914 . . .55 5 (not fished) 



1915 ... 85 2 



1916 ... 62 24 



1917 ... 24 51 



1918 ... 63 54 



1919 . . 222 22 (no water in autumn) 



1920 . . .156 24 



The river has been improving in the spring and rather falling 

 off in the autumn. Right up at Cortochy, as many as 100 fish 

 have several times been got in spring. 



